Power Steering takes a dump on the freeway...

[Strongbad]

I have what I consider a very average 2003 M45. 60k miles. Broken gas gauge and burns a quart of oil every oil change.

So I am making the 6 hour drive from Lubbock back to DFW last weekend. I have been driving for about 2 hours when I pull off the freeway for gas. As I pull off the exit ramp into the gas station, I get a high pitch whining from the power steering pump. After gassing up, I check the level (which is quite a challenge due to the stupid engine cover.) and the reservoir is bone dry and there is fluid everywhere.

Unable to find any Dex ATF, and afraid of putting regular PS Fluid in there, I drive it home dry since I am only about 45 minutes from home with minimal turning.

The next day I take it to a mechanic shop who advertise themselves as a "dealership alternative". They do work on alot of high end cars (There was a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce in the stalls on either side of me). Seem pretty legit and I have had a few people recommend them.

So they tell me yeah, it's the PS Pump. $800 and change to replace it, with over $500 of that being the new pump. I found a used pump off a 2004 M45. It had less than 45k miles on it and a 2 year warranty.

I take it back to the mechanic shop and it takes them 2 days to install it. When I finally pick it up yesterday, they warn me that they think I got a bad PS pump because it is still whining. They claim they bled it twice, but with no luck. They said I could drive it a bit and see if maybe there were some air bubbles that would work their way out.

So I put about 20 miles on it yesterday just driving around. The steering seems to be ok, but it whines like crazy.

This morning I come out, and I start her up and I can barely even turn the wheel. I get to work, and pop the hood, and there is fluid gushing out of the PS reservoir.

Has anybody on here ever had trouble with their PS pump like this?

Any advice is appreciated....

[M4T5]

Sounds like the problem was something else. Possibly the pressure switch went bad or the worse, the rack & pinion itself is bad. Let me look into this further and see all the possibilities.

J

[M4T5]

I look through the service manual in the power steering system. It really doesn't give your symptoms as a reference starting point to the possible problem. I looked through the entire power steering section and didn't see anything relating to your problem described.I did read that there is a special service tool required and procedure to bleed the p.s. system properly. There is also a tool that measures the pressure of the fluid on high pressure hose. Items point to the p.s. pump if the pressures are not with manufacturers recommended specifications.Is the fluid coming out of the power steering reservoirs cap location? You may have a blocked hose or like I said, bad pressure switch. I'll see if I can find more info elsewhere.

J

[Strongbad]

Thanks.

Yeah the fluid is coming out from under the reservoirs cap.

I should also add that this problem came on all of the sudden. There had been no whining previous to the Lubbock trip.

The entire trip out to Lubbock, the car was fine, as well as driving around Lubbock for a day, and most of the trip back.

It's definately strange because I have never had a PS pump go out on a car without giving me some warning before...

[M4T5]

Sorry man, but I couldn't find anything else on the net over that issue your having. It looks like your in a hard spot man. What does the mechanic that did the work say about it now? Being you didn't let them provide the part, puts you in a bind and him not liable for additional labor charges. It really should have gone to the dealer I guess.Let us know what you find out man!

J

[Strongbad]

Right now, he is saying to bring it back in and he will re-bleed the lines, but I can't imagine that air in the lines would cause the reservoir to overflow like that. I am starting to lose faith in him and I am thinking about taking it to the stealership...

[Strongbad]

Shop has had it 2 days now. they claim they have bled the system twice, and that it is a little better, but that they feel the replacement pump I brought them is bad.

Doesn't the service manual require a special tool to bleed the PS lines?

[M4T5]

You just have to read this for yourself:

Oopps, I posted the one for an 07 model at first!Here's the one for your 03' M45:

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/M/2003/ps.pdf

J

[Strongbad]

Thanks M4t5 for the PS manual. I actually sent it to the shop hoping it would help. lol

Going on a week now and still no word from the shop.

I am giving them until 3 and then I am going to go pick it up and take it to the stealership.

At least Grubbs will give me a loan car...

[Strongbad]

Well I went to pick it up, and she was running great. I guess they were bleeding it wrong, because the pump works terriffic.

Thanks to M4T5 for the help. I'm sure it's not a coincidence they got it fixed after I emailed them the PS service manual...LOL!

[M4T5]

No problem man! I'm glad that's all it took to fix your power steering problem. It's nice to hear when the advise or info given to an individual actually helped or cured their problems. That's why we are here.

J